Thill-coupling



(No Model.) I '2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- G. H. ALLEN. THILL COUPLING.

No. 478,678. Patented July'lZ, 1892.

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. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. H. ALLEN. THILL GOUPLING.

Patented July 12, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. ALLEN, OF BROOKPORT, NEW YORK.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,678, dated July 12 1892.

' Application filed March 21, 1892. Serial No. 425,693- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. ALLEN, of Brockport, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Thin-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the drawings accompanying this specification.

My improvement relates to hook-and-eye couplings in which a hook is formed on the cross-bar of the clip and an eye on the thilliron, which parts are fitted together, thus facilitating the application and removal of the thills.

The invention consists in the combination, with such a hook-and-eye coupling, of aspring made of wire, fitted in a slot of the cross-bar back of the joint, provided on its front side with a concave or bend which fits the eye and on the back with a nib or shoulder which rests under a lug of the cross-bar to hold the spring in place.

It also consists in the combination, with the said parts, of a safety device to prevent the spring from dropping out when loosened or detached.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the coupling attached to an axle and showing the thills in place. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cross-bar detached. Figs. 3 and4 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, showing a modification.

A indicates the clip, and B the axle, connected by the ordinary cross-bar a under the axle. The cross-bar or the clip is provided with a hook I) at the front end for the connection of the eye on the end of the thill-iron.

O is the thill-iron, provided at its rear end with a circular eye 0, which fits over and is held by the hook on the cross-bar. When so connected, it plays free, but cannot become detached, except by raising the thills into nearly a vertical position.

D is the wire spring, the same being made of a single piece of spring-wire bent double in U form, as shown. It is passed up through a slot d of the cross-bar which holds it from lateral displacement. It has in its front length a concave or bend f, which fits closely against the rear circular side of the thill-eye, thus embracing it on that side and pressing it up in close contact with the .hook. In its back length it has a nib or shoulder g, produced by doubling the wire, and this nib rests under a projecting lug h of the cross-bar. lhe reaction or back-pressure of the spring keeps the nib within the lug and the lug holds the spring against rising and prevents displacement. Thespring can be inserted or removed at any time by compressing it; but its own elasticity keeps it in place and causes it to bear firmly against the thill-eye and serve as a packing. Fig. 1 shows the closed end of the spring upward, and Fig. 3 shows it downward. The first-named form is preferable, as it prevents catching of the tail of the horse or other objects.

I am aware that fiat springs bearing against a bolt or cross head of the coupling are well known. Therefore I do not claim, broadly, a spring. This device consists of a wire spring specially adapted to fit the eye in a hook-andeye coupling. It is made of wire, therefore has small bearing on the hook. It has the curve f,which fits the circle of the eye, thereby making a firm bearing and holding it in place. It has on its back the nib fitting under the lug to hold it in place. Furthermore, it is fitted in a slot of the cross-bar by which it is removable.

In case the closed end of the spring is placed upward, as in Fig. 1, I employ a safety device which crosses the slot 01 and prevents the spring D fromdropping out should it become accidentally displaced or become loose. This safety device may be of any desired form or construction so long as it crosses the slot under the closed end of the spring D. I prefer,

however, the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2,,

which consists of a wire 19, with a bent end 10, that crosses the slot (1, said wire extending back and being coiled once or more around the shank of the clip and clamped between the axle and the cross-bar a.

Having described" my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the hook-and-eye coupling, of the U-shaped spring-wire provided in front with a concave or bend which fits the eye and in the rear with a nib or shoulder that rests under a lug of the crossbar, said springwire resting removably in a clip and crossing the slot under the closed end of the spring, as and forthe purpose speci- IO In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. ALLEN.

WVitnesses':

R. F. Osooon, RoBT. G. ELLIOTT. 

